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LTwr11 said 01/21, 12:11 AM
My first time at this so give me a break, but I think you're missing some points.
Yeah, Rich Rodriguez is a great coach, but he had Steve Slaton, Pat White, and a slew of nameless talent.
Who does Michigan really have left? They lost so many good seniors and juniors to the draft, they're left with only a skeleton of a team. Not to mention that they also lost Ryan Mallet, their hope at QB. Admittedly he might not fit Rodriguez system, but both could adapt their styles to use his skills.
As for McGuffie, one he's a freshman, and small at that. His "sickest" move was a humiliating jump over the defender. Its pretty cool, but it won't fly in the Big 10. If he does play any as a freshman, it won't be for long with his defiant running style that's going to get him leveled.
Who's left at Michigan that's worth mentioning?
Besides, the Big 10 is a strong conference. They might be able to pull it off if they schedule cupcakes for their non-conference games.
Then again, that might just make it worse...

LTwr11 said 01/21, 10:06 PM
It seems like a pretty weak schedule, but any one of those teams could turn out good next year. I'd say Toledo is the only given win. The others are not great, but I'd still think they're a viable threat. Wisconsin, Minnesota and Michigan State especially.
As for the players you mentioned, they may be good, but they're all still freshman. Pryor, the miracle QB, hasn't even commited to Michigan. Even if he does, do you think they'll give him signifigant playing time or turn over the offense to him his first year.
The only ones you have down as commited are 2 Rbs and a TE. Do they have anyone to make up for the loss of star OT Jake Long. No commited defensive players mentioned, how many starters did they lose on that side of the ball, certainly enough to significantly weaken their D.
I think they will have fairly good skill position players, but they will be nothing without their line and defense
If they lost 4 last year with a team of star players, future pro players, they can only go down with a team of only or mostly freshman as you seem to think.

LTwr11 said 01/22, 07:32 PM
I count five possible to likely losses
Wisconsin
Penn State
Michigan State
Minnesota
Ohio State
And I also see many of the other teams with a chance to beat Michigan. Not to mention Illinois and Purdue, the two losses you count for them.
To say that Pryor is the only hope for Michigan is putting them in a deep hole. I think he has just as good a chance or better of going to Ohio State. He gets a year to understudy and get to know the system while still running some plays behind Todd Boeckman, then he gets to take over as a sophmore. A bigger point though is the return of several "stars" on the OSU O-line. A huge point for him will be O-line play since no QB likes getting hit. Last, I think he would want to go to the better program. OSU has just been to the BCS championship twice, while Michigan just lost to a D2 school, which would he want to say he's going to?
More importantly than the debate of if TP will go or not is how big a difference it will make. Do you really think as a freshman he will be able to turn around this team? Hart Henne and Long, future NFL players did poorely, how do you expect a bunch of freshman and a brand new coach to win more? UM has no chance